London-based artist Bayou has been feeding us with a slow drip of music ever since we first caught wind of him with the hazy, soft-focus R&B of “Cherry Cola” in 2012. Where tracks like “Forever Deluxe” and “Everybodysgottalearn” where delicate throughout, “Airlock” hits hard from the off, with wonky synths and a bubbling beat. This frantic opening makes the moment when the beat suddenly drops away to leave Bayou’s plaintive vocals alone with little more than a piano to accompany them even more surprising.

“Airlock” will be out on Bayou’s Loopback mixtape on May 12 via Double Denim.